2A: Design or
adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and
resources to promote student learning and creativity (ITSE, 2012).
5C: Evaluate
and reflect on current research and professional practice on a regular basis to
make effective use of existing and emerging digital tools and resources in
support of student learning (ITSE, 2012).
These were the
standards that I choose to focus on when I started this course and designed a GAME
(goals, actions, monitor, evaluate and extend)
plan for my students (Cennamo, Ross, & Ertmer, 2009). In regards to the first standard that I
choose, incorporating digital tools that promote student learning, I was able
to infuse my existing curriculum with more technology than I have ever used
before. Students were able to become familiar
with tools such as VoiceThreads, wikis, and digital storytelling. It resulted in a learning curve for both the
students and me. The number one thing
that I will take away from this experience is that preparation is the key to
any lesson that involves technology.
Having a back-up plan in place comes in a close second. Rubrics guided the students through the
labyrinth of what to include and helped to keep them focused on the lesson at
hand. Pacing was another hurdle that
students and I needed to work through.
As for the second
standard that I focused on, evaluating and reflecting on current research,
using the tools and experiencing first-hand how they work in a classroom
setting allowed for adaptations to be made.
Accommodations such as translated pages for English language learners,
adjusted reading levels for struggling students, and allowing for extra time to
type the information gleaned were all discovered through implementation of the
technology itself. Having students
reflect on the aspects of the lesson that worked well and those that did not
afforded yet another look at how to better execute the lesson in the future. The piece that I still struggle with is
finding the time to explore new technologies and determine how to best
incorporate them into my teaching repertoire.
This experience has
shown me that including various technologies into my teaching does not detract
from the content being learned. In fact,
the opposite seems to be true. Students
are learning exponentially, not only content but digital literacies that they
will take into the work force with them.
Providing students with the skills that will enable them to compete in
today’s global market is why I choose teaching as a profession 20 years
ago. Sharing how to use technologies
that they are already familiar with, in a new way that they otherwise might not
have ever thought of, opens up possibilities for students to become critical
and creative thinkers while collaborating with each other or experts to solve
the problems that they face, not only
today but in the future as well.
References
Cennamo, K., Ross, J., &
Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology Integration for Meaningful Classroom
Use. Mason, OH: Cengage Learning.
ITSE, I. S. (2012). NETS
for Teachers. Retrieved September 12, 2012, from
http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-teachers
